President Donald Trump signed a law approving federal funding through the fiscal year on Nov. 12, meaning residents who receive food aid benefits would be receiving their full benefits for the month of November, not the reduction that went into action at the start of the month.
State agencies will be required to issue these allotments for the remainder of the calendar year, including newly certified applicants who applied after Nov. 15, according to a Nov. 13 memo from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The FY26 Appropriations Act will restore funding to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program contingency fund, however, “amounts are not anticipated to be sufficient to provide full funding for allotments for November 2026 in the event of a lapse of appropriations next year,” as said in the memo.
The USDA is encouraging states to upgrade their systems and their procedures as needed to rapidly distribute reduced allotments in the event “available appropriations are insufficient to provide full allotments in any month. FNS [Food and Nutrition] staff are available to provide technical assistance for such upgrades upon request,” as stated in the memo.
Even with the uncertainty of SNAP benefits in the state, local communities have been keeping resources available for those in need during this time. There are a handful of food pantries and food aid programs around the Mansfield area for those who may need resources at this time.
Husky Harvest
The University of Connecticut’s food pantry is scattered throughout its five campuses. The pantries are accessible to anyone with a UConn ID.
They provide non-perishable food items and toiletries during operational hours. At the Storrs campus, the pantry is located at the Charter Oak Apartments Community Center and is open on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the fall and spring semesters.
UConn Stamford’s pantry is located in the downtown building in room 235. It’s open from Tuesday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The UConn Hartford regional campus pantry is located in the Hartford Times Building, on the lower level in room G09. This pantry’s fall and spring semester hours include Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Fridays from 1 to 5 p.m.
The pantry at the School of Law is in MacKenzie Hall on 110 Sherman St. in Harford. Its operational hours are Tuesdays from 12 to 2 p.m., Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. or by appointment.
UConn Avery Point’s pantry is located in the Community Professional Building in room 114. The pantry is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The pantry at UConn’s Waterbury campus is located in the main building in suite 107. The hours for this pantry include Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m., Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There is a pantry located in UConn Health in the academic building in room AM016. Its operating hours are Mondays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Wednesdays from 12 to 1 p.m. and Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
The pantry is also open during the summer months. Information has not been released yet for the Spring of 2026.
For those interested in donating, the pantry is looking for “canned goods, tuna, cereal, peanut butter, soups, and canned vegetables. Home basics such as toilet paper, dish detergent, and clothes detergent. Toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner, and toothpaste,” as stated on their website.
For additional information about the Husky Harvest food pantry, you can visit their website, huskyharvest.uconn.edu.
Covenant Soup Kitchen in Willimantic
The kitchen “provides food and access to basic services in an environment of care, love, support and safety to those individuals and families from the greater Windham community who come through our doors,” as stated on its website.
The Community Food Pantry Cooperative is open to the public and is housed next to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, located on 220 Valley St.
The following information was sourced from and can be found on the Covenant Soup Kitchen’s website.
The pantry is open for shopping on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The kitchen provides meals in the building’s dining room. Meals are served seven days a week while the dining room is open. Breakfast is served from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. daily, lunch from 12 to 1 p.m. daily and dinner on Friday and Saturday from 4:15 p.m. to 5 p.m.
For those interested in donating, the pantry is currently asking for canned and dried fruits and vegetables, shelf-stable proteins, pasta, rice, cereal, oatmeal, fresh produce, fresh or frozen meats, deli meats and cheeses, soups and ready to heat meals, baby food and kid friendly meals, diapers, wipes, shampoo, soap, toothpaste, deodorant and period supplies.
Donation and delivery hours are as follows: Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or you can call for an appointment.
Both the kitchen and pantry are looking for volunteers. Potential volunteers can fill out the Volunteer Request Form to be a kitchen assistant, delivery driver or pantry organizer.
More information can be found on their website at covenantsoupkitchen.org or at their email, kclark@covenantsoupkitchen.org.
Access Community Action Agency, Willimantic Office
The Access Food Pantries are site-based and mobile locations that serve “individuals and families in Windham and Tolland Counties who find themselves in an emergency situation where they run a risk of being without food,” according to the agency’s website.
They pick up and distribute food to towns in both counties that are reported to be food insecure.
There are two locations through this agency, one in Danielson and the other in Willimantic.
The Willimantic location is on 1315 Main St. and is open on Mondays from 1 to 3 p.m., Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and on the first Friday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m.
“Food pickup is available every 30 days per family,” according to their website.
Those interested in visiting this location do not need any proof of identification or income; all that is asked is for attendees to bring reusable bags and to fill out a short form.
Access also provides a service where “an individual or family can meet with a Case Manager for an assessment and determine what can be done to eliminate the barriers that created the need for an emergency food supplement,” according to their website.
This is provided in an effort to help residents combat short-term food insecurity on a long-term scale.
For additional information regarding these resources, visit their website, accessagency.org.
Connecticut Foodshare
Connecticut Foodshare is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was founded in 1982 and has been a member of the Feeding America nationwide network of food banks, as stated on their website.
The program is partnered with food distributors to receive surplus food that is then sorted and packed by volunteers at their facilities and then distributed to their pantries, meal programs and mobile sites.
The organization provides SNAP application resources. They will assist residents with applying for SNAP benefits.
A mobile food pantry locator is available on their website where Connecticut residents can find more than 100 pantries that offer fresh produce and other perishable food items.
For more information about the Connecticut Foodshare program, visit their website at ctfoodshare.org.